Petroleum Products Corporation ran a used oil processing and refining facility on a 3-acre property in Pembroke Park, Florida, from 1957 to 1971. The operation contaminated soil and groundwater, including the underlying Biscayne Aquifer. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1987. Today the property hosts a 400-unit storage warehouse, a shooting range, and a restaurant, and sits near a mobile home park to the south.
EPA has identified more than 40 contaminants at the site in soil, groundwater, surface water, and free-phase liquid contaminants that do not mix with water. These include metals such as lead, arsenic, and chromium, as well as organic compounds including benzene, vinyl chloride, trichloroethene, and naphthalene. The site also contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and total petroleum hydrocarbons.
Cleanup is divided into three operable units. The first covers interim actions involving wells and drainage. The second addresses source soil and groundwater contamination. The third focuses on groundwater contamination. Between 1999 and October 2013, responsible parties ran a vacuum-enhanced system that pulled more than 30,000 gallons of oil from the groundwater. A Record of Decision issued in August 2021 selected cleanup methods for the first two units, including stabilizing contaminated soil in place, excavation, demolition of buildings in the main source area, and temporary or permanent relocation of affected residents and businesses under the Uniform Relocation Act. Remedial design for the second unit finished in November 2023, and active cleanup began in March 2024 and continues today. The third unit's groundwater remedy includes extraction wells, air stripping, chemical oxidation, and hydraulic controls. Human exposure is currently assessed as under control, and contaminated groundwater has been stabilized within the original contamination area, though physical construction is not yet complete.
Institutional controls restrict land use to industrial and commercial purposes in most of the site. Zoning prohibits schools and residential uses in the former disposal pit area. A water line connects nearby homes and businesses to the public water supply. The South Florida Management District designated the area as a groundwater delineation zone, requiring approval before any new wells can be installed. A five-year review was completed on December 4, 2025, to confirm the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment.
Community members can get involved through public notices, meetings, and interviews. EPA has published fact sheets in English, Spanish, and French, along with a prerecorded video explaining the cleanup plan. Site records are available at the Broward County Public Library in Fort Lauderdale on Level 5. For questions, residents can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly.
